Page 69 of Claimed By the Biker Brothers

“Robyn, for God’s sake, I’m trying to help you here,” he says. “When the DEA comes down on the Riders, they’re gonna come down hard. It’ll be swift. And if by some miracle they survive, they certainly won’t survive what Marlo’s got planned for them. I can get you out of there. I can take you somewhere safe.”

I laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me.Youtakemesomewhere safe. That’s fucking rich.”

“No matter how it ended between us, I owe you that much,” Calvin says. “You and Kyra. I don’t know what you’ve got going on with Knox or the others and I don’t care.”

That’s a lie. I can tell from the sound of his voice, from the way he watches me like a hawk, like a tiger about to pounce if I so much as breathe.

“You need to leave, Calvin,” I say again. “You’ve delivered your warning. Consider it received and understood. But it’s my decision at the end of the day.”

“Robyn, you’re being stubborn…”

He tries to come closer, but Paulie steps in. I’m startled and breathless. I didn’t even see him coming. But he stands tall between us, his shoulders squared and one hand close to the gun he keeps in the back of his ragged jeans.

“Calvin,” Paulie says in a low voice. “You really shouldn’t have come here.”

Suddenly, Calvin’s demeanor changes. There’s contempt in his gaze, but there’s also a warm flicker, a sense of familiarity, I suppose. It could be the bitterness of seeing his former best friend again as they stand on opposite sides.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve,” he tells Paulie.

“I’m just doing my job, protecting her from you,” Paulie bluntly replies. “Come on, man. Don’t make me do something I really don’t want to do. I thought you would’ve learned your lesson by now.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to have a word with my wife.”

“Ex-wife. And you’re in violation of a restraining order,” I cut in.

Paulie gives me a quick glance over the shoulder. “Are you okay, Robyn?”

“Yeah, he just showed up here out of nowhere.”

“He does that a lot these days; sneaking around like a little mouse,” he says, turning his focus back on Calvin. “Go away, brother. You’re not welcome here.”

“Relax, Paulie. I’m not gonna put you in a tough spot,” Calvin shifts his weight and moves back with a sly grin. “I’ve said my piece. Robyn knows what’s going down. I just wish she had the sense to listen to me for once.”

“Knox isn’t gonna like this,” Paulie warns him.

“Since when did you turn into his little bitch?” Calvin scoffs, shaking his head in disappointment. “What happened to your spine, man? You used to be different, better. I used to look up to you.”

“I haven’t changed. You, on the other hand, seem to have gotten stupider. Those four years in prison didn’t teach you anything, did they?”

“Oh, they taught me plenty. I see everything clearly now, especially you,” he says and points a finger at Paulie. “I see you, Paulie. I see the role you’re trying to play: the knight in shining armor, the good, obedient little soldier. But you’re forgetting something… I know you. I know you better than Knox, better than Jagger, better than Diesel, better than any of those snakes.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask.

“Nothing to you, Robyn. It’s between me and Paulie. He and I go way back. And when the shit hits the fan, I know what he’ll do. I know where his loyalty lies, and it ain’t with you.”

Paulie curses under his breath, hand gripping his gun. “I swear to God, if you don’t leave right now, I’ll put a cap in your sorry ass.”

“I’m leaving.” Calvin chuckles and walks away.

I’m shaking like a leaf by the time he turns the corner and is out of sight. The adrenaline wears off, and I breathe a shuddering sigh as all the blood rushes to my head.

“What did he want?” Paulie turns around, giving me a worried look.

“He was warning me about what’s going to go down with the club, nothing we’re not already familiar with.”

“I’m sorry, Robyn.”

I give him a confused look. “What for?”

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